Thomas Harris created the iconic fictional murderer and sociopath, Hannibal Lecter. This book explores and analyzes the characters, artistry, and cultural impact of Harris’s novels-four of which are centered on the terrifying villain of the iconic film, The Silence of the Lambs.

Making Murder takes readers deep into the work of Thomas Harris and his iconic creation, Hannibal Lecter-one of modern fiction’s most unforgettable characters. A former crime reporter, Harris’s exhaustive research techniques have included extensive time with the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit studying actual serial killers. Like no other available volume, the book explores the dark heart within Harris’s novels-the unflinching look at evil that makes them so much more than just good reads.

Making Murder looks at all five of Harris’s novels, starting with the suspenseful terrorist thriller, Black Sunday, then moving through the quartet of books in which Hannibal Lecter gradually moves from malevolent presiding spirit to unsettling, recognizably human protagonist. Author Philip Simpson looks at the critical response each book received and explores the works themselves in terms of story, characters, writing style, allusions and symbols, and themes. An introductory chapter provides insights into the author’s life, publishing history, and significant cultural impact.

Includes reproductions of paintings that figure heavily in Harris’s work, including William Blake’s The Great Red Dragon and the Woman Clothed With the Sun

Provides bibliographic listings of print and online resources for further reading